The present invention provides a conjugated fiber suitable for use as a crimped fiber capable of producing an artificial leather having highly dense texture and good quality. The present invention also provides a base body for an artificial leather and an artificial leather produced by using such conjugated fiber. The conjugated fiber of the present invention includes a conjugated fiber comprising a readily soluble polyester component and a less readily soluble component, and the readily soluble polyester component comprises a copolymerized polyester having 5 to 10% by mole of 5-sodium sulfoisophthalate copolymerized therewith and the readily soluble polyester component contains a polyalkylene glycol. The polyalkylene glycol is in the form of streaks extending in longitudinal direction of the fiber in the longitudinal cross section of the conjugated fiber.